You don't need to sell your Ferrari

Robin Sharma’s The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is a wake-up call for anyone feeling buried under workload and disconnected from their deeper goals. Through the journey of Julian Mantle, a high-powered lawyer turned Himalayan monk, Sharma distils timeless truths about intentional living and time mastery.

Inspiration alone isn’t always enough. That’s where the DISE method can become the perfect partner. It's a practical framework I use to turn these ideals into daily wins, rebuff overwhelm and avoid stress and burnout. DISE stands for:

- Deadlines: Anchoring tasks to time.

- Information: Clarifying what’s needed to act.

- Sizing: Estimating the effort required.

- Eisenhower Matrix: Prioritising by urgency and importance.

How do Sharma’s principles map to DISE. Read on to discover how you can use both to design a life that’s productive, under control, and purpose-driven.

Time Is Life’s Most Precious Commodity (D = Deadlines)

Sharma reminds us that time is non-renewable. Every moment wasted is gone forever. Deadlines help us honour this truth, not as pressure, but as permission to focus.

DISE Tip: Assign deadlines even to personal growth tasks. Say you want to read more? Block 30 minutes each Friday to do so. If you want to reconnect with someone? Schedule the call later today. Deadlines transform intention into action.

The Ritual of Time Mastery (I = Information)

Sharma's character Julian teaches that just 15 minutes of morning planning can change your entire day. But planning only works when you have clarity.

DISE Tip: Morning planning sits well with DISE. In fact it is a fundamental step - to assess and refine daily. Before you start a task, ask: What information do I need? Whether it’s a login, a document, or a decision-maker, identifying gaps early prevents stalls, stress, and going down the wrong path.

The Magic of the Hour (S = Sizing)

Sharma’s “Magic Hour” is about devoting time daily to self-development. But not all growth tasks are equal. Some tasks need deep focus, and others just a nudge.

DISE Tip: Size your effort. Is this a 10-minute tweak or a 2-hour deep dive? Estimating effort helps you batch tasks, protect energy, plan your time, and avoid overcommitment.

The Ten Rituals of Radiant Living (E = Eisenhower Matrix)

Sharma's rituals include solitude and early rising. They are all about aligning actions with values. The Eisenhower Matrix helps you do just that—by sorting tasks into:

- Urgent & Important: Do it now.

- Important but Not Urgent: Schedule.

- Urgent but Not Important: Delegate.

- Neither: Delete.

DISE Tip: Use the Matrix regularly to audit your to-do list. Are you spending time on what truly matters or just reacting? Reacting is overwhelm, and excessive stress' right hand man, and something that you should be avoiding as best possible.

Visualisation, Goal Setting & Simplification

Julian’s teachings on visualising your ideal day and simplifying your life are the glue that holds DISE together. When you know what “good” looks like, and can strip away the noise. Your time therefore becomes a tool.

DISE Tip: Start each day with a mini vision board or written snapshot of your ideal outcomes. Then use DISE to reverse-engineer your schedule.

Final Thought: Monk-Like Focus, Modern-Day Tools

Unlike Julian Mantle, you don’t need to sell your Ferrari or move to the Himalayas to master your time. You just need a system that blends intention with execution. Sharma's mantra gives us the why. DISE can act as the how.

When your calendar feels chaotic, pause. Ask: What’s the Deadline? What Information do I need? How big is this task? Where does it sit in the Matrix? This will allow you to act with monk-like clarity.

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For more information on the DISE method visit: https://www.beclearpro.co.uk/the-dise-method

For Robin's Sharma's smash-hit box, visit: https://amzn.eu/d/7ksAqG3